A music events promoter has been sent to jail for four years after making a ‘vulnerable’ teenager wear a chastity belt, as well as whipping and sexually assaulting him.

Gareth Varndell, 31, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a male and causing another to engage in sexual activity without consent, before his sentencing at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday September 22.

The court heard that Varndell, of Southmead Road, Aldershot, was involved with promoting music events for teenagers in Guildford.

Varndell had claimed to have managed multi-platinum selling band My Chemical Romance as a way to "ingratiate" himself with the teenagers, the court was told.

The first count related to an incident at the end of August 2012, when the victim arranged with Varndell to have some piercing done, as the defendant was someone who the court heard "had a reputation" for piercing.

The victim "agreed to some restraint" while it took place.

The court was told that Varndell suggested the victim have his penis pierced.

“He [the victim] made it clear he did not want that,” said Alisdair Smith, prosecuting.

“When he [the victim] attended, he was told to undress completely and handcuffed to a surgical bed. He described duct tape being used to secure him.

“He was allowed to wrap himself in a towel. The defendant then undid the towel.”

The court heard Varndell then touched the victim’s penis "despite being told to stop".

The remaining counts happened a year later, shortly after the victim received a message from Varndell.

“The defendant accused him of sexually assaulting a girl,” Mr Smith said. This was denied by the victim, and the court heard it was a fabrication.

Varndell said that by way of punishment and to avoid involving the police, he should fit a chastity device to the victim and lash him with a belt.

“He was told he had to strip naked and on that occasion because he protested, he was allowed to keep his underpants on, but he was handcuffed to the table again,” Mr Smith said.

“The defendant made an attempt to pierce his penis with a needle.”

The court heard the victim had not consented to that.

“He was then handcuffed to a box in the kitchen then lashed with a belt approximately 30 times,” Mr Smith said.

The victim wore the belt for a week, before asking the defendant for the key so he could remove it.

In January the following year, the victim told his mother and girlfriend, and the defendant was arrested on January 16.

Defending, Rina-Marie Hill, said Varndell was ‘truly sorry for his actions’.

“He wanted to explain himself by reference to mental health by saying he was in a bad place at the time,” she said.

“He acted in a way that was completely out of character and in a way he cannot explain.”

Judge Noel Lucas said Varndell had ‘preyed’ on the victim.

“You found yourself a vulnerable victim and in a very calculated manner and over a long period of time you took advantage of him,” he said.

“I have no hesitation concluding that you do pose a high risk of causing serious harm to others, especially adolescent males by the commission of further serious sexual offences.”

Allowing a 25% reduction in sentencing for his early guilty plea, Varndell was sentenced to 50 months in prison, of which he will serve two thirds behind bars.

Judge Lucas added an extended sentence of four years, meaning Varndell will remain on licence for that period of time, as well as imposing a sexual harm prevention order.